Mary Alice Heston

Name: Mary Alice Heston
Place of Employment: Oracle
Job Title: Senior Director
Education: Computer Science 

Mary Alice Heston, Senior Director of North America Customer Interaction Strategies is responsible for strategic, customer-focused programs delivering on the improving the customer experience through all phases of the solution lifecycle. Mary Alice is a member of the North America Sales and Consulting executive leadership team. Ms. Heston’s responsibilities encompass developing and delivering programs that foster and improve the overall customer relationship. Primarily, this includes account strategy development, activities to ensure strategic relationships, helping to increase overall customer satisfaction, and engaging with customers through the entire customer lifecycle. Oracle’s goal is to build a strategic relationship where both the customer and Oracle understand the value of their mutual investments.  Members of North America Customer Interaction Strategies interact with a diverse group of customers spanning commercial, government, education, retail, and health care lines of business across North America. Ms. Heston leads a team of 6 people with an average tenure of 8 years.  She has built an organization focused on helping customers leverage all of the assets and resources at Oracle. She is personally engaged in several strategic customer relationships acting as an executive sponsor or participating on an executive steering committee. Ms. Heston joined Oracle in 1997.  Prior to her current position, she was Director of Oracle’s  Internal Communications organization, where she supported a variety of executives with internal and external strategic messaging and communications. Mary Alice’s previous positions with Oracle include: Director of North America Consulting specializing in database design and implementation, business intelligence and knowledge management.     Ms. Heston began her career in 1990 at Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), where she held the position of program manager until 1992.  From 1992 until 1997 she held the position of program director with ABB and managed and lived abroad managing large scale implementations. Ms. Heston has a BS in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. She and her family reside in Corssville, TN.  Locally she devotes her time to several organizations and boards including The Imagination Library, The Special Olympics and The Fairfield Glade Ladies Invitational Golf Tournament.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve encountered during your career in STEM?
When I began pursuing a future in the technology field there were not many women in the field. I did not see this as a challenge. I did see it as an opportunity to understand how people think differently and approach challenges or situations differently.   The only challenge I have encountered in the early years of my career was traveling to other parts of the world were women do not work or are seen as valued resources or team members. In todays world this is not nearly as much of a challenge.

What do you think is the most exciting thing about having a career in STEM?
What I have found to be the most exciting aspect of my career has and continues to be the evolution and the speed of change in the field. My career constantly challenges me to think differently, look at challenges and situations from different vantage points and to be confident in myself.

If you could give one piece of advice to a girl who is considering doing a Silver or Gold Award based on STEM or pursuing a career in STEM, what would that be?
I received the Gold award when I was a Girl Scout. It is an acheivement that prepares a young woman for the future. The skills that are critical to success in any area, including STEM, are proficiency in that area, communication and critical thinking. Pursuing a Silver or Gold Award prepares a young woman in all of the critical skill areas.   My advice is to pursue and investigate the things that challenge you the most - the things that give you energy and finally what makes you happy.

Did you have STEM mentors?
When I was in school there wasn't a specific STEM curriculum or program. Going back to grade school I was in advanced math classes and had a terrific teacher that made the class fun. When I was in high school I was fortunate to have female math teachers who encouraged me to pursue a career in technology. I would say that my STEM mentors were my 11th grade math teacher Sharon Cichocki and my computer teacher Deb Nailos.

If you were a Girl Scout, what is your favorite Girl Scout memory?
My favorite memory as a Girl Scout are the friendships that I made as a young girl and still value today. I am still making memories.

If you were a Girl Scout, did Girl Scouting have an impact on your decision to pursue a career in STEM?
Girl Scouts prepared me for a career in technology. It gave me a foundation for the skills that I needed and still do need to be successful in my career.   Now more than ever it is important to be able to be successful as a team. To understand what needs to be accomplished both at an individual level, focusing on a badge, and at the team or group level, building a tent, campfire, or craft. These skills were fostered in Girl Scouts and are invaluable as a professional woman in the technology field.